Sad over Sadie

Well, the dreaded days are here that we've know we would face for the past four years. Our beloved Dog, Sadie, has suffered from Addison's Disease (like JFK) and she is in her final days. We are moving through sadness, denial and a plan. We have decided to spend the day together as a family with her tomorrow. She has been gradually refusing food since last Saturday until today when she completely refused water and food. She is terribly weak and surprisingly she stands up and goes outside, down stairs, but has nothing to void.
It's very hard to come to terms with as she is such a significant part of our family and has been one of Byron's Best Friends for the past 11 years. We get teary thinking about it, and both cried today about the reality of how close she is to death.

The greatest things about Sadie have been:

When she lays down on the floor she crosses her front paws over each other like the classy "lady" that she is. Even in illness she is doing this.
Welcomes us by running to the door upon our arrival. She's been our security system always...letting us know if someone is walking by, or on the premises - with a loud bark...scaring strangers enough to stay away, but welcoming everyone once they are "cleared" by us.
She's gentle, loves walks, grew to love our cat...to the point where she defends our cat against neighborhood offenders (the only time she's aggressive), never jumped up to eat our food. Stayed behind a barricade even if it was just a wall of pillows or a piece of cardboard. Never jumped up on furniture. Is gentle with Charlie and our neices, Olivia and Mairenn. Loves to rest her head on the edge of couch, a coffee table or our knees when she wanted attention. There's no dog like her. When we would go on walks and while other dogs would "freak out" barking upon sight of a second dog...Sadie would just keep on going sniffing, disinterested in dogs having a spaz. Sometimes it was almost as if she thought she was human. She's a sweetheart and we hope to decrease her suffering tomorrow.